“Already done, compadre,” I answer, cutting him off.I recline back and take a long pull off my drink.I think back to my little rendezvous with DD and Jenn.It wasn’t bad for what it was, even if DD was too damn clingy.

“No shit?Who is it?”

“No one important.Just a couple of ladies that are friends with Hayden.”

“Damn.Good for you.Sure as hell nice to have you back, old man.”

“Good to be back.”

“I’m headed out to Sal’s tonight.You want to go?”

Sal’s is a local strip club the boys hang out at a lot.I don’t really have the urge to go, but I shrug it off.I don’t really want to stay here either.

“Sure.Why not?”I ask.

I walk out with Fury toward our bikes.

I’m not going to lie.I think I did better away from Tennessee.Being back here makes me think of Torrent again, which fucks with my head.I ignore it though.Torrent is in the past.The one thing life has shown me lately is I want someone in my life that feeds my soul.I’ve seen what a difference it makes with Beast and that’s what I want.I doubt I’m going to find it at Sal’s, but I figure that’s better than waiting for her to fall in my lap here at the club.

“Where you guys headed?”Diesel asks as we make it to the garage.

“We’re going to head down to Sal’s and check out the new talent he has.Want to join us?”Fury asks.Diesel’s looking at me strangely.He’s been doing that since I rode back in today.I see questions in his eyes, but I ignore them.

“Why not?Ryan’s out for the night.Let me get Dani to check in on him,” he says.

We watch as he walks away and there’s something different about him.He’s been that way since the last kidnapping attempt.His constant worry over his son is slowly getting to him.Crusher mentioned he’s even talking about leaving the club and disappearing with Ryan.I’m hoping that doesn’t happen—but, it’s not like I could blame him if he does.Ryan needs to be his first priority.

“Diesel seem different to you lately?”Fury asks and I scratch my neck, wondering exactly how to answer that.

“He’s got a lot on his plate,” I finally say with a shrug and leave it at that.

“Yeah a night out at Sal’s might be what the doctor ordered for all of us,” Fury says.

Personally I think he’s expecting too much from a night at a strip club.I’m tempted to grab a bottle of Jack and go back to my room, but I don’t.I’ve made a decision to move on with my life and I’m damn well going to do it.I’m not getting any younger and I’m starting to feel way too old.

Chapter16

Torrent

“What the fuck are you doing?”a dark voice growls.My eyes are swollen shut.The world is black and I couldn’t see him if I wanted to.The voice sounds familiar though.I’m woozy, drifting in and out of consciousness, so I can’t concentrate enough on it.

“Nothing—only having a little fun,” the guy above me says.I hate him.I’ve vowed to myself over and over that if I ever get free I’m going to kill him first and I’ll make it painful.The only problem with that plan is that I’m beginning to think I won’t get free.Hell, even if I do I don’t know what this guy looks like.I’ll work around that, though, if I ever get the chance.

“You had strict orders not to hurt the merchandise, you fuck-head.”

“Haven’t touched her, just had to make sure she fell into line,” he says.

I feel a hand tightening in my hair and yanking my head up.I moan from the pain that radiates so intensely through my head that I have to struggle not to black out.

“Fuck, look at her, asshole.How do you know you haven’t given her brain damage?”

“What does it matter if I did?You just said you wanted her alive.I didn’t think you meant I?—”

“You aren’t paid to think,” the man growls and I hear the sound of someone being slapped.“You’re paid to carry outmyorders.”

“I thought you were working for?—”

“It’s not who I’m working for.It’s the fact you’re working for me and I warned you.I don’t want the package harmed.I have her sold, you fuck-wad.He’s not going to want to pay for merchandise that looks like that!”